More than 40 cars were damaged in a tire-slashing spree at the University of Tennessee campus and surrounding Knoxville area on Tuesday. University of Tennessee Police arrested 29-year-old student Skye Scialabba in connection with the vandalism. She faces felony charges for her alleged involvement, as per a WVLT report.
Witnesses reported seeing the suspect driving a gray Kia SUV, and she was detained around 4:30 p.m. the same day, according to WATE. The tire slashing extended beyond the university campus, with several cars in the nearby Fort Sanders neighborhood also targeted.
Knoxville Police reported seven additional incidents of vandalism off-campus, as WBIR noted in a report.
Scialabba was charged with felony vandalism, unlawful possession of a weapon, and simple possession. WVLT reported that police found a .22 caliber handgun, ammunition, drugs, and a folding knife upon her arrest. Affected vehicle owners are now facing the financial burden of the repairs, with some hoping their insurance will help cover the costs.
During questioning, Scialabba claimed to have not taken her bipolar medication for 24 hours, which she said triggered a manic episode where she "blacked out." She stated that she could not recall her actions, according to WBIR. The investigation is ongoing, and Scialabba is being held at the Knox County Detention Center.
Victims expressed frustration over the incident. One UT student, Kaelyn Bullard, told WVLT, "I look down at my tires, and there were at least 20 people in the parking lot who got slashed." Another victim, Lexie Bennett, said, "You just come to work to make money. You don’t really expect to drop $500 on tow and extra on tires, so it’s just really unfortunate."
